next stop, american idol

we've got a basketball sensation, how about an asian american american idol for 2012, huh?

my family and i have watched american idol fanatically for as long as i can remember. we scoff at other singing shows, and yes, we even remained loyal during the shuffling of the judges. oh, simon cowell, how we miss your pissy face and tight v-necks.

this year brings a talented bunch, but there's only one soulful, bespectacled, korean american standout in the group, and that's 22 year old heejun han from flushing in queens, ny.

be still my heart because homeboy can sing. he left the judges with stunned faces and eyebrows raised (shall we bring up the low expectations conversation again? nah. we've had enough of that these past few weeks, haven't we?) in his pittsburgh audition with michael bolton's how am i supposed to live without you? and wowed them again with broken strings during the grueling and always comical group week in the hollywood round.

but there's something in addition to heejun's buttery, warm voice worth noting: he's funny as hell.

before crooning a single note, he had the judges smiling and laughing with his nervous and endearing arm wiggle, reminiscent of those flailing armed air dolls you see outside car dealerships and other businesses. outside the audition room, he told ryan seacrest his head was much smaller in person than it looked on television. he also tells ryan not to stand by him because the side-by-side comparison would be too much.

has he won you over yet? how about when he yells "hollywoooooooooooooooood" for 13 straight seconds the way "goooalllll" is yelled in soccer games, ending it with a big smile and a quick, "i'm coming!" need a little more? what about last night's final judgement episode announcing the top 24 who would go through to the live voting rounds; ryan asks heejun, "so you said you're sweating, heejun. what are you sweating?"

his answer? "mostly water". he made it through to the top 24.

it takes a lot to take the attention away from the frosted-tips, radiant smile, and tanned skin that is ryan seacrest, and heejun han does it every time he's on camera.

live voting shows start next wednesday, february 29th, 7 pm CT on fox. tune in to the talent and hilarity that is heejun han and make sure you vote. i'm sure jeremy lin wouldn't mind a little break from the limelight (or at least all the academic and social analysis articles). heejun han, let's give them something to talk about.

for more heejun hilarity:

and also check out jessica sanchez, another asian american ai season 11 powerhouse with a breathtaking version of celine dion's the prayer:

-melissa